Community Technical Assistance Project (CTAP): A Regional Community Driven Smart Growth Initiative in New Hampshire
Project Objective
This RMC project was for the NH Department of Transportation, with organizational support from NH Office of Energy and Planning and NH Dept. of Environmental Services, to provide a comprehensive growth management initiative to a region of 26 local communities that will be impacted by the reconstruction of I-93. CTAP is designed to provide technical assistance to these communities on sound land-use planning practices to minimize the unplanned and negative effect of growth on community services, remaining open space, quality of the environment, existing traffic patterns, and other considerations.
Student Theory & Skills Applied
Integrated Land Use Planning
Community Driven, Environmental Public Policy Development
Planning and Facilitating Community Participatory Problem Solving Forums
Conducting Community Surveys, Analyzing Data, and Presenting Findings
Environmental Communication and Outreach (Web, Written, Video)
Building Local Capacity for Implementing Systemic Change
Communication and Facilitation
Carbon Footprint Analysis: Landmark College, Putney, VT
Project Objective
The project was to assess the carbon emissions and energy consumption for the college, develop a set of recommendations, with associated cost and payback analyses. These tasks included field collected data waste generation, both based on volume and toxicity by material. Purchasing and waste disposal contracts and practices were also assessed. The process included on-going interface with a committee of administrators, faculty, and individuals from facilities and operations.
Student Theory & Practice
Research existing information, data and contractual language
Data collection by Activity and Structure
Projected Annual Rates of Energy Use/Waste Generation
Technology and standard operation procedure review
Carbon Footprint Modeling
Cost and Cost Avoidance Analysis
Recommendation Generation, with Associated Pay-back Periods
Communication and Facilitation
Climate Change Adaptation: Study of Impacts to the Oyster River Watershed and Great Bay Estuary in New Hampshire
Project Objective
This RMC project was conducted for Piscatqua Region Estuaries Partnership and NH Department of Environmental Services, and in partnership with US EPA, to ascertain the impacts to riparian corridors and associated water conveyance infrastructure due to projected increase in frequency of intense precipitation events. This information is then provided to decision-makers regarding the resiliency of the current landscape and how to address risk as they adapt to the projected changes in stormwater run-off. A component of the project also provided NH Fish and Game information regarding fish passage and connectivity within the river basin.
Student Theory & Skills Applied
GIS-based Spatial Analysis
Land Use Build-out Analysis
Modeling H20 Run-off and Peak Flows
Establishing and Monitoring of Stream Gauging Stations
Field Data Collection Monitoring Peak Flow Capacity
Statistical Analysis
Regional Organics Recovery: Establishment of a Composting Option for Commercially Generated Organics, Brattleboro, VT
Project Objective
This RMC project was conducted of Windham Region Solid Waste District in Brattleboro, VT. Initial phases are to identify and quantify commercially generated organic waste streams and provide technical assistance in diversion strategies from disposal for this material. Subsequent phases considers compost facility design, associated cost analysis, and conducting field and bench-scale pilots on the processing of this targeted waste stream.
Student Theory & Skills Applied
Site Assessment Procedures
Training Commercial Establishment Owners and Staff
Cost and Cost Avoidance Analysis
Process Mass Balances
Field Data Collection and Analysis of Pilot Scale Operation
Bench-scale Analysis of Compost Quality
Odor Generation Modeling
